Served as the Chief Minister of West Bengal from 1977 to 2000, making him India's longest-serving Chief Minister as of 2010 of any Indian state. He was a member of the CPI(M) Politburo from the time of the party's founding in 1964 until 2008.
DEATHS IN 2009
December 30 - Vishnuvardhan, 59, Kannada film actor and singer
December 29 - C. Aswath, 72, Kannada music director and singer
December 7 - Bina Rai, 73, film actress
November 10 - Dimple Kapadia, 51, film costume designer and actress
October 25 - Adoor Bhavani, 82, film actress
September 2 - Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy,14th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh
August 9 - Murali, 55, film and theatre actor, author
August 9 - Gulshan Bawra, 72, songwriter
July 29 - Gayatri Devi, 90, Rajmata of Jaipur
July 29 - Rajan P. Dev, 56, film actor in South Indian films
July 28 - Leela Naidu, 69, film actress
July 21 - Gangubai Hangal, 96, Hindustani classical singer
July 16 - D. K. Pattammal, 90, Carnatic musician, one of the "female trinity of Carnatic Music"
June 28 - A. K. Lohithadas, 54, filmmaker in Malayalam cinema
June 8 - Habib Tanvir, 85, dramatist and actor
31 May - Kamala Das, 75, writer and poetess
17 May - Prakash Mehra, 69, film director and producer
27 April - Feroz Khan, 69, film actor and producer
9 April - Shakti Samanta, 83, film director and producer
31 January - Nagesh, actor
27 January - R. Venkataraman, 98, the 8th President of
It was easily the most talked about Bollywood wedding of the year. On November 22, actress Shilpa Shetty tied the knot with beau UK-based businessman Raj Kundra in a private Mangalorean ceremony in Khandala followed by a star-studded reception in Mumbai. The actess first met Raj after her win on the British reality show "Big Brother" in 2007
The people's princess
Rajmata Gayatri Devi, the third Maharani of Jaipur died on July 29 at 90. Once named among the 'World's 10 Most Beautiful Women' by Vogue, she forayed into politics and was actively involved in social work. Always spirited till the end of her colourful life, this was one queen who with her beauty and charm will always reign over our hearts
Eric Simons: has been appointed bowling consultant of the Indian cricket team for the Test series against Bangladesh, and the Test and ODI series against South Africa,”
"Mr Shashank Manohar, President BCCI
N Srinivasan: BCCI Secretary
David Morgan : assumed the role of ICC President in July 2008 and will serve until ICC annual conference in 2010.
Haroon Lorgat : ICC Chief Executive Officer
Mr Ravi Sawani: was appointed the new General Manager and Chief Investigator of its Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU). Mr Sawani, from Chennai in India, came to the role with outstanding credentials, with 30 years in the Indian Police Service including seven years with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). In the latter organisation, as Joint Director in charge of Special Crimes, he worked on the enquiry into match-fixing in cricket.
Supriya : joined ICC as Manager - HR and Administration in Jan 2009. Born in India, Supriya has a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a Masters in Personnel Management. She has spent most of her work-life in Dubai and has seen the transition of Dubai from a quietly vibrant city to a buzzing economy.
1.812 crore rupees 680-Km long highway in Terai region.
2.electrification of five villages of Nepal.
3. establishment of science learning centre in Lalitpur.
4. agreement on setting up of central depository services for Nepal Stock. Exchange.
HIGHLIGHTS OF INDIA-NEPAL RELATIONS
1925: second Treaty of Sagauli, signed with the government of British India.
July 1950: Treaty of Peace and Friendship
October 1950: Treaty of Trade and Commerce
1950: Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship
The Citizenship Act of 1952
1952: Indian military mission in Nepal
Late 1950s & 1960s Nepal voted differently from India in the UN
Nepal challenged the existing mutual security arrangement in 1969
secret accord of 1963 and 1965 India won a monopoly on arms sales to Nepal.
Nepal challenged the existing mutual security arrangement in 1969
The 1978 agreements incorporated Nepal's demand for separate treaties for trade and transit
India refused to endorse Nepal as a zone of peace
1987 India urged expulsion of Nepalese settlers from neighboring Indian states, and Nepal retaliated by introducing a work permit system for Indians working in Nepal
1987 agreement setting up a joint commission to increase economic cooperation in trade and transit, industry, and water resources.
1988 Kathmandu signed an agreement with Beijing to purchase weapon
On March 23, 1989, India declared that both treaties had expired and closed all but two border entry points.
2008 Indo-Nepali ties got a further boost
Nepal-India Joint Committee on Water Resources meet decided to start the reconstruction of breached Kosi embankment
high volume of unauthorized trade across the Nepalese border
The two issued a 22-point statement highlighting the need to review, adjust and update the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship, amongst other agreements.
India and Nepal share a 1,400-kilometre open border, which has very few checkpoints.
The greatest festival of Maram tribe, locally known as Kang-Hi, which was out of bounds for photographers till 2008, has begun at Maram Khullen village in interior Senapati district of Manipur.
A unique feature of the traditional post-harvest festival of the Maram, a major tribe of Manipur, is the naked wrestling between male competitors.
Wrestlers are selected from among the winner of each small clan before they compete in the grand event in front of the Chief Queen of Maram Khullen.
This indigenous game is exclusive to men and women are not allowed to witness the game.
If they wish to watch the game, they may do so from some distance away from the area.
Solar eclipse on January 15 is the longest annular Solar eclipse that will occur in the 21st century.
A Solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partially obscuring the Earth's view of the Sun, while an annular clipse occurs when the Moon is farther from the Earth than normal, and hence its apparent size is not quite sufficient to cover the Sun completely.
Annular Solar eclipse, the Sun appears as a very bright annulus, which in Latin means ring, surrounding the outline of the Moon, giving the appearance of a Ring of Fire.
Photosphere of the Sun shall be covered by the moon thereby forming a ring of fire in the sky for more than 10 minutes in some parts of India.
The path of the annularity in India will pass over the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Mizoram while the partial phase of eclipse will be visible all over the country.
In India, the eclipse starts at 11.06 AM and will continue for four hours till 3.5 PM.
In most parts of the country the phenomenon will be partial.
Since Kannyakumari lies on the central line of the eclipse a large number of astronomers , scientists and media from all over the world have assembled there for a perfect view of the unique celestial activity.
India had similar eclipse in 1965 and will have to wait till 2020 for another one.
The annular phase of the eclipse can be viewed in the southern part of the Indian subcontinent.
The best view of the eclipse will be at Dhanushkodi and Kannyakumari in Tamil Nadu.
2010 January - Tens of thousands of people are feared dead in worst earthquake to hit Haiti in 200 years
Haiti became the world's first black-led republic and the first independent Caribbean state when it threw off French colonial control and slavery in a series of wars in the early 19th century.
Politics: Democratic rule was restored in 2006, two years after a violent revolt ousted former leader Jean-Bertrand Aristide; bitter political divisions persist
Economy: The economy is in ruins and unemployment is chronic
International: The UN has deployed peacekeepers; international aid is seen as key to recovery
2009 October-November - Jean-Max Bellerive becomes prime minister after the Senate passes censure motion against his predecessor, Michelle Pierre-Louis.
A new monastery, described as south Asia's biggest, was inaugurated by the Buddhist spiritual leader Dalai Lama at a Tibetan settlement at Chandragiri in Orissa's Gajapati district here.
VK Murthy gets the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Award for 2008 for his all time contribution in cinematography.
After Dr Rajakumar, VK Murthy is the second Kannadiga getting this award but of course for recognition in Hindi cinema!
‘Kagaz Ke Phool’ is the first film for which VK Murthy wielded the camera in the black and white days.
VK Murthy the outstanding cameraman has worked for only for one Kannada film ‘Hoovu Hanu’ directed by SV Rajendra Singh Babu. He had also acted in this film.
Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development
The coveted Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development has been bestowed on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The award carries a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh and a citation.
Bharatiya Samman Award
Recipient of Bharatiya Samman Award and the Padma Vibhushan, Professor Jagdish Bhagwati, University Professor, Economics & Law at Columbia University and Senior Fellow in International Economics at the Council on Foreign Relations delivered the maiden lecture at the Distinguished Global Indian Oration Series of the Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas here.
Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (2010)
Mohinder Singh Bhullar, successful businessman - Brunei Darussalam, is instrumental in the formation of the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Brunei Darussalam. He has assisted the Indian community in that Southeast Asian nation and has acted as a bridge between India and Brunei Darussalam.
Yanktesh Piramal Reddy, an Indian origin businessman in Fiji, has promoted tourism to India in a big way from the entire south Pacific region. He has also worked relentlessly for the protection of the interests of the Indian community in Fiji.
Ryuko Hira, a successful Indian entrepreneur in Japan, is the director of the prestigious Japan-India Association. A leading philanthropist, he has supported several projects for the underprivileged in India. He has also sponsored and supported the translation and publication of the Mahabharata, Vedas, Upanishads and books on Hinduism, Busshism and Sikhism into Japanese.
Dr. Ruby Umesh Pawankar has focused on the furtherance of India-Japan medical collaboration for a number of years. Recognised in Japan and worldwide for her outstanding contributions to science, she is the first Indian and first woman to be nominated as president of World Allergy Organisation.
Suresh Kumar Virmani, a successful engineer, entrepreneur and businessman, is a founder member of the Indian Cultural Association in Oman. He has worked relentlessly for the welfare of the expatriate Indian community in Oman and has helped establish a number of Indian schools in Oman.
Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan,finance minister of South Africa, has distinguished himself as commissioner of the South African Revenue Service. He was a political activist who took active part in the anti-apartheid movement of that country, organising and leading student movements.
Tholisah Perumal Naidoo is a publisher, journalist and founder of the Indian Academy of South Africa in Durban. He has been promoting Indian culture in South Africa for the past 25 years organising regular events like the Tyagaraja Music Festival and Festival of India and introducing the Nataraja Golden Peacock Award for Indian classical dances there.
Rajni Kanabar is a philanthropist who initiated the Tanzania Heart Babies project wherein Tanzanian children suffering from congenital heart defects are sent to India for open heart surgeries. Over 1,300 surgeries were performed in the last 27 years with the support of the Indian High Commission in Tanzania, Air India and Narayana Hrudayalaya in Bangalore.
Deepak Mittal, an industrialist and financial expert, has successfully set up and operated many large state-of-the-art Indian joint ventures in Thailand. His efforts led to expanded trade between India and Thailand. He has also been involved in charity and social activities for the welfare of people in Thailand including the Indian community.
Lenny Krishendath Saith is minister in the Prime Minister's Office in Trinidad and Tobago. A strong advocate of bilateral ties between India and Trinidad and Tobago, he has consistently promoted the cause of the Indian diaspora in that Caribbean nation.
Dr. Azad Moopen is a physician turned entrepreneur who manages one of the largest healthcare networks in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. His group conducts free health camps for Indian labourers in remote locations in the GCC countries. He has also worked for the welfare of the Indian community in the United Arab Emirates.
Mani Lal Bhaumik is a scientist, author, educator and philanthropist whose books and lectures at prestigious institutions has significantly contributed towards a better understanding of the cultural and spiritual heritage of India. He sponsors an annual award for Indian children in California who excel in science and mathematics and has worked for the welfare of the Indian community in the US.
Ashok Kumar Mago has worked actively for the promotion of Indo-US political and economic ties through his association with a variety of boards and commissions in the past. He is chairman of the Indo-American Political Forum in Dallas, which seeks to educate youngsters to participate in the political process
